Markl17 - Track days in France etc...

[Markl17]

have you got any more detailed pics of the harness bar?

My car is fully trimmed,so just rear seats out and four bolts takes no time at all.
Mark

[Ranjan]

Hi
I spent some time today getting the car ready for my first track day of the year, I am quite pleased with the harness brace.
I also fueled it up and premixed for the first time as I thought if I am doing more track days this year a little extra protection would not go a miss.roll on the 1st March
Mark

Mark,
Thank god you have finally relocated your shoulder straps they were attached in a way that would be injurious to your spine.
Next, to keep the shoulder harnesses from sliding laterally on the roll bar you can use a little bit of roll bar padding to isolate the belts (like the photo below) and cable tie them. If you want to get fancy about it, you can install large collars that fit around the roll bar that look pretty slick.




Ranjan.

[Markl17]

Hi ranjan
A couple of people on here had suggested the same thing so I got the bar to be safe the foam looks like a good idea.
Mark

[Markl17]

Hi
I have just been looking at the long range weather forecast for next Sunday,light rain all day,so probably will be a bit slippery.
I thank i will leave the Nanking s at home as they are scary in damp conditions,I also went to the diy shop today and spent 2 euro on pipe lagging for the harness brace and if the postal gods are on my side I will get my new rrp coils and leads fitted before Sunday
I see 3 sisters and Caldwell are only a day apart ,is anybody doing both.hope the weather is good for you next weekend and you turn a lot of fuel in to noise.
Mark

[GreySilver Beast]

I am doing both Mark

[Markl17]

Nigel,you are a track day dynamo,much respect,Toyota should give you cars as long term test cars .
Mark

[GreySilver Beast]

Hey Mark you going to pop over and see us on Tuesday 8th April at the Ring

[Markl17]

Hi
I am sat having my breakfast and thought I would check the weather forecast for next Sunday,I think I might need some snow tyres.
Mark

[Markl17]

Hi
Good new the weather has improved for tomorrow,it is just light rain all day. I quite like wet track days as the more powerful cars don’t look as fast and the 8 comes in to it’s own,the Michelin ps 3,s help a lot to.the car is prepared and ready to go, I fitted my new rrp coils and msd leads,fueled up added some premix the rest of the kit in the boot.6am start in the morning so long day but should be fun.
Mark

[Ranjan]

Have a good day Mark

For future reference try the Uniroyal Rainsport 3 tyres; they are a revelation in the wet.

Ranjan.

[Markl17]

Hi
I did my first track day of the year yesterday,and as you can see from the video it was wet we even had hail,but I really enjoyed it.i quite like the car when it feels like it is on tiptoes,I had a couple of trips through the gravel and explorer every inch of tarmac,but I found a line that worked and it felt good, lap time best was 2mins40secs .a Lamborghini and maclaren were on track at the some time ,they sound awesome,I think I am going to have to save up for one.
Mark
Ps video has not loaded

[Markl17]

Hi
I have a track day on Sunday and the weather forecast is for 37 degrees c question is how can I keep the car and me cool?
Any other hot weather advice welcome.
Thanks mark

[Conan]

That is hot, what circuit are you at ?
What grade oil are you running ?
Keep it to really short runs and cool the car on a lap or two before pitting
dip the clutch and blip the throttle as you come into the pits until you park and turn the engine off immeadiatly
Aircon will keep you cool when your off the throttle
You may want tinted visor or strip on winscreen
Gota go finish later
Pete

[Markl17]

I am at le man
That is good advice do you think higher Tyre pressures or not also I took the ac out ,bad move I think.
I foregot 10 w 40 new oil this week
Mark

[New Duke]

Definitely not higher tyre pressures. I'd start at 26 or 28 psi depending on the conditions in the morning. Then monitor them as the day heats up.

You should be OK on engine temps provided you short shift on the straight, even though does sap some fun out of it.

If you do overheat then the PCM should cut the throttle and put you into limp mode before you do any damage or see steam. Mine does anyway.

As for keeping you cool keep in mind that the air con cuts off at 100% throttle, if you even still had it installed. In the UK TDOs will let you have the windows open 25% and the rear windows fully open. So that may be worth a try.

I'd recommend very loose fitting sweat absorbing clothing. Think the man from Del Monte

I freeze 3 or 4 500ml water bottles the night before. So that I have cold water to drink all day. And I drink it all.

Good luck!

[Ranjan]

OK, you are going to get uncomfortable, that is a given. What you have to do is lessen the misery.

1. Keep the air inside the car moving so open rear quarterlights fully and lower both front windows a little.
2. You HAVE to keep your head cool. I used to take iced water and small hand towels. Soak the towels in the water and put on your head and then put your helmet on. Seriously works.
3. Take some bigger towels, wet them, and put them on the seat and sit on them. If it is hot (37) your seat will dry in a flash while in the pits.

Have fun.

[geofftl1000r]

I have soaked Buffs in water and worn around my neck to help keep cool. Apparently the blood is close to the surface in the neck and wrists?
You can also wear one as a kinda head covering similar to Ranjan suggested.
37 in an RX8 with no AC is going to be hot.

[Markl17]

Hi everyone
It’s a bit since I have posted on this thread,I did a track day at the circuit de haute Saintonge last Sunday,the weather was good about 22 degrees and sunshine,there was about 45 cars .as work has been busy I just took the car with the road tyres on.
In the morning I turned the traction control off to see if I could get off the corners a bit faster I spent a lot of time side side ways which was fun but not very fast ,I think most of it was due to the tyres as I did not have this problem at Le Mans with the track day tyres,there was 5 red flags in the morning mainly due to break downs, in the afternoon I left the tc on and got some really good laps in chasing an mx5 nd and we made a couple of Porsche drivers look a bit silly which is always fun.car was totally reliable again but I should have put the track tyres on .

[GreySilver Beast]

Mark can I please ask you to make a list of all the Track Circuits available in your part of Europe you go too

Many thanks

Events Team

[Markl17]

Hi Nigel
Yes I can do that over the weekend.
I hope you are keeping fit and well it looks like you have some good trips coming up.
Mark

[Markl17]

Hi
I have been looking at track days for next year and this has become available,I will probably book a place in the new year.
Looks like track days are restarting in March so a nice birthday present to myself.
Mark

[Ranjan]

You are on

Ranjan.

[ChrisHolmes]

Definitely a maybe!

[Markl17]

You are on

Ranjan.

Yes I will be going as I had a great weekend this year but may need to reconnect the ac.
Mark

[GreySilver Beast]

Depends on the Covid-19 restrictions being in place by then